Giving cats a second chance

WHEN a mother cat and her two young kittens were found abandoned on a Sydney street their prospects of a better life seemed dire. Fortunately second chances are plentiful in the country and the Himalayan mother and her fluffy kin are now living in comfort awaiting their forever homes.

Ainslee Higson is fostering the cats, together with two others - Gary and Jaffa - at her Wingham home through Purr-fect Match cat adoptions in Old Bar. The organisation rescues cats from death row at local and Sydney pounds and Ainslee and her family are reaping the benefits of opening their home to these furry friends.

This is the first time Ainslee has put her hand up to foster and she is well aware of the need to remain detached emotionally. She acknowledges the two seven week old kittens will be the hardest to let go but the desire to find a rescue cat a loving home is what drives foster carers. Foster fail is fairly high, with many foster carers falling in love with their charges and choosing to keep them. But Ainslee already has enough cats and a dog of her own and said the cost of vet bills was one of the things that saw her choose fostering over adoption this time around.

"Fostering is ideal for people who are worried about vet bills as the adoption organisation will pay for this," she said. Fostering it seems is also ideal for people who would like a cat or dog but go regularly on holidays and so cannot commit to full ownership. "Purr-fect match is always looking for foster families; they have a lot of cats to look after."

Ainslee and her family enjoy the company of the cats and Ainslee said she can spend all day giving them cuddles. "The older cats in particular make great pets for someone - they come house trained and are placid, they just want to be cuddled."

Purr-fect Match cat adoptions can be found on Facebook and all their cats for adoption are listed on www.petrescue.com.au